Yep, starting a new multi-chapter fic before finishing the last one, sorry! 'Coming Home' will be completed eventually, if slowly. This story is something a bit different for me so reviews very much appreciated.
This is an AU story, asking the question of what would have happened if Amira's father had never been arrested? First chapter begins May 2009, the day after Amy's Christening and the disastrous lunch with Amira.
"Good morning, lovely people!" Christian surveyed the mostly-empty kitchen and amended his greeting. "Well, good morning lovely person anyway." He strolled further into the room as Syed flashed him an unreadable look before turning his attention back to the stove. "Where is everyone?"
Syed looked back over his shoulder, still stirring whatever was bubbling away. He looked grumpy and not in the mood to talk - as far as Christian could judge on a five-day casual acquaintance anyway. "Mum's gone to the wholesalers, Dad's still on his rounds. And I don't think Jane's on the rota for today...?"
Christian leaned against the wall and looked thoughtfully at his colleague. "Ooh, you are the golden boy, aren't you?" he said, smiling. "I'd been working six months with your mum before she left me alone in the unit, you've not been here a week. Did she leave you a long set of instructions about not burning the place down? A list of emergency numbers? Detailed timings for everything that needs to be done? Exactly how much is in a pinch of salt?"
Finally, a smile cracked through that impassive countenance - which had been Christian's aim since walking into the unit - and Syed put down the spoon and turned around to lean against the worktop. "Maybe. Or maybe I'm just more trustworthy than you."
Christian grinned at him. "Than me? Never." He wandered back towards the lockers to dig out his uniform, calling behind him as he went. "I am the very epitome of trustworthiness. Your mum would trust me with her life." Popping his head back round the corner, he added, "Just not with her cooking. Stick the kettle on, would ya, I'm parched."
Syed reached for the kettle, suppressing the smile that kept threatening to erupt across his face. He was being ridiculous, he knew. He was going home, had already packed up the few things he had at Janine's and would be making Shabnam's old room his own after work that night. He should be ecstatic; and he had been, yesterday. But lying awake in the early hours of the morning in Janine's spare room for the last time, all the old doubts and fears had begun to creep back into his mind. Could he do this? Be part of his family again, make his dad trust him, live up to his mum's expectations, make his parents proud? If he worked hard, paid back all the money, helped make the business a success, would it be enough? And then there was Amira...
Contrary as it was, part of him was determined to hold on to the bad mood that had taken hold once Mum had left him alone in the unit this morning. He had lost his girlfriend yesterday, surely a bad mood was the least anyone would expect. And for reasons he didn't want to look at or analyse too closely, he didn't want Christian to be the one who snapped him out of it. It was dangerous territory. Christian was one of those people whose good moods were infectious, whose smile lit up his whole face, eyes twinkling and full of mischief... Far too dangerous to let him in. Best to keep the walls up, stay polite and friendly but never personal. It was a technique he had mastered working in property; be charming, flirty, witty, pretend to be everyone's best mate, but never let that mask slip.
In that world, of course, you expected your colleagues to be as false as you were. He wasn't stupid, he knew things would be different working for the family business. Ian, Jane and Christian all seemed decent enough, people you could imagine getting on okay with - his mother's dire opinion of Ian Beale aside - but that didn't mean he needed to make friends with them. Concentrate on the task at hand; regaining his family's love and respect, making a success of his life. He attacked an onion with a little more force than was necessary, wondering what was taking Christian so long in the office...if he turned around, would he see Christian changing his shirt through the open blinds?
Amira. Syed forced his mind back to Amira. Her words had stung, of course. He knew he had hurt her, deserved everything she threw at him; his family hadn't deserved her insults, but he knew that to be his fault too. But the loss of her had stung more. She was perfect, everything he wanted in a girlfriend. Beautiful, funny, smart, from a good family, well-connected...having her on his arm had made him feel proud, happy. Safe. He was the envy of every man with her by his side. He had imagined bringing her home to his family so many times since he had met her; a successful businessman with a beautiful girlfriend, his mother's face lighting up with pride as he told her about Amira's father and his ambitions for the business...
Syed let out a sigh and threw a second onion onto the chopping board with force, enjoying the satisfying thunk as the knife cut through it. Where had it all gone so wrong?
"Careful, you'll have your fingers off," said a cheerful voice behind him. Syed turned back round to see Christian grinning at him as he pulled on an apron. "Work schedules?"
"Where they always are, on the board," said Syed shortly, using the knife to gesture in that direction.
Christian raised an eyebrow at him before heading over to unpin the schedule for the day from the board. "I hesitate to ask while you're holding that knife, but would you bite my head off if I said 'smile, it might never happen'?"
Syed hesitated, not sure whether to take offence or not; he had a strange feeling he was being tested in some way. The temptation to snap back didn't last long however, and he let the mask slip back on, managing a polite smile. "And if it already has?"
"Oh dear, sounds ominous. You're not bothered about the christening, are you?" asked Christian, brow furrowed. "It was a bit of a disaster, granted, but we'll still get paid, don't worry..."
Syed sighed and turned his attention back to his work. "It's not that. How's your friend today, by the way?"
"Roxy?" Christian walked over to stand next to him and leaned forward, reaching one hand up to pull down his lower eyelid and expose bloodshot eyes. "See that?" Syed nodded mutely. It was taking all his self control not to leap backwards, out of harm's way; it was like an electric shock had raced through him, every nerve ending on fire. His body's reaction to Christian's looming presence was terrifying, the panic almost overwhelming him. Was the older man doing this on purpose, testing him or teasing him, seeing if he reacted? But then Christian leaned back again, seemingly oblivious and Syed forced himself to calm down.
"That," Christian continued, "is the result of several bottles of wine and my best friend bending my ear for most of the night. Also the reason I was late today, don't tell your mum." He winked and sauntered over to the sink to wash his hands. "She'll be fine though, she's made of tough stuff is our Rox."
"I think I missed some of the finer detail of what happened..." said Syed, amazed at how normal his voice sounded and awash with relief that Christian didn't seem to have noticed anything.
"Don't ask," said Christian with a groan. "Family stuff. Her family's..." He trailed off, seemingly at a loss to describe the Mitchell clan. "...complicated."
"Aren't they all?"
He laughed. "Very true. Mine's an absolute bloody nightmare." He sounded astonishingly upbeat about it and Syed risked a quick glance to see him still smiling as he started work.
"Are you always this relentlessly cheerful in the morning?" he asked. "Even with a hangover?"
"Always." Christian grinned. "Didn't your mum tell you?"
"She must have neglected to mention that detail."
"Ah, you'll get used to me." He nudged Syed's shoulder as he went past on the way to the fridge, and Syed once again had to fight the urge to flee in panic.
"I'll have to learn to live with it, I suppose…"
"Er, hello? Is anyone going to help me here or do I have to wait until you've finished your little chat?" They both turned at the familiar sound of Zainab's irritated voice and Syed rushed to help her with the box she was struggling with. "The rest of it's at the top of the stairs, Syed, could you fetch it down for me please?" She turned to Christian, barely taking pause for breath. "Have you heard our wonderful news, Christian? Syed is returning home, back to the very bosom of his family."
Syed was halfway up the stairs by the time Christian's dry reply floated past.
"I think you may have mentioned it yesterday, Zainab, once or twice…Or three hundred times..."
The noise of their bickering faded into murmurs as he reached the top of the stairs and left the unit, leaning against the wall for support and welcoming the cold air against his skin. This was insane. Here he was, trying to rebuild his family's trust, and he was acting like a schoolgirl with a crush.
Syed shook himself. He was emotional and he was tired and he was confused. All of that was behind him now, a shameful past left in Leeds. He was being tested, but he had the strength and the faith to deal with it.
Determined, he pulled his phone out of his pocket. Time to get control of his life again.
"Hi, this is Amira. Leave a message."
"Amira? I'm so, so sorry, you have to believe me…"